Method and apparatus for serving tacky tape



June 22, 1948. KRUEGER 2,444,019

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SERVING TAcKY TAPES Filed May 13, 1941 l 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 30 I INVENTOR 7/1. Kev/56 R M m BY /0 l Q /0124 1 ATTOR NEYS June 22, 1948. T. H. KRUEGER 2,444,019

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SERVING TACKY TAPES I Filed May 13., 1941 I s Sheets-Sheet? ATTORNEVS June 22, 1948. KRUEGER 2,444,019

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SERVING TACKY TAPES Filed May 15, 19.41 SSheets-Sheet 4 I 1 //.2 l Q #2 INVENTOR J'- Th. K/PK/EGfR BY ame/+47% ATTORNEYS June 22, 1948. T KRUEGER 2,444,019

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SERVING TACKY TAPES Filed May 13, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 i /7/ 130 [3/ a I257, 1T? i INVENTOR /75 2 fl. Afl/ffle.

ATTORNEYS Patented June 22.1948 7 METHOD AND APPARATUS. FOR SERVING TACKY TAPE Theodore H. Krueger, Strattord, Conn., assignmto Better Packages Incorporated, a corporation of New York Application May 13, 1941, Serial No. 393,231

This invention relates to improved methods and apparatus for serving measured lengths of strips or tapes covered or impregnated with a pressure sensitive adhesive which is permanently tacky or non-drying. Strips or tapes of "this character, which may be made of paper, Cellophane, cloth, foil or the like, treated or coated on one or both sides with an adhesive 01 the character referred to are diiilcult to handle because of their characteristic of adhering instantly to whatever object they come in contact with. Such strips or tapes are very diiferent in their characteristics from strips or tape which are coated with ad'- 45 Claims. (01464-42) The taking advantage or the adhesive qualities ofthe tape to facilitate its serving makes the method of the present invention characteristically different from the methods, utilized in serving tape which does not have the normally tacky quality. v

The. invention also includes the provisionoi improved apparatus for dispensing tacky tape,

such apparatus being especially designed to function with such tape and to facilitate the dispensingthereof in accordance with thenovel method.

V arious forms of apparatus embodying the.

' principle of the present invention may be utilized hesive which is dry, and non-sticky until moistened. Many of the operations in the handling of such normally dry tapes, such as feeding and tape of paper or the like is still dry and retains its normal stifiness.- The tape is therefore relatively easy to handle, as it passes over the mois tening brush or roller and when it is removed from the machine- This is not true of theordinary normally tacky tape which must at all times be handled with the greatest care to avoidgetting it stuck in the machine, or tofsomeother part of the tape from which itwould'begalmost impossible to free it. a I. In accordance with the method ofthe present invention as practiced in the examples herein used to illustrate the same the normally adhe-- sive or tacky characteristic ofthe'tape is made.

use of for three distinct purposes. First, it is utilized as a means for aflixing the tape to a mov and tor purposes of illustration I will now de scribe certain. of the preferred constructions which I'have devised.

In the accompanyingdrawings which illustrate machines embodyingtheinvention,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of the apparatus, v f

Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof,

Figure 3 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section of the reel shown in Fig. 1, looking at the same from the opposite side from which Fig. 1 is taken,

Figure 4 is a central transverse vertical section of the reel, showing partof its stand in elevation.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section of the parts shown in Fig, 4, showingjone of the knives held ininoperative position. V

Figure 'Gis'a plan view with the cover removed of amodifled formof' machine embodying tea- "tures of the invention and adapted to be used in Q practicing the novel process above described,

Figure 7 is airontview-oi' the machineshown I Figure'ii is a longitudinal vertical section or the machine on line B-JofFig. 6.

able feeding element which is moved; to draw the tape from the roll; second, it is used to hold the,

tape firmly and usually tightlystretched between two supports while the portion or tape to be served is severed from the roll and third, it is utilized to hold the severed portion of the tape in a firm but accessible positi0n, in which it is sup,

ported so that it cannot foul other portions of tape or any part of the tape serving device, but

from which it may be readily and safely withdrawn by the operator without danger of such fouling.

Figure 9 is a transverse vertical section on the line I- 9 of Fig. 8,

Figure 10 is a partial longitudinal section on line l0l0 of Fig. 9,

I Figure 11 is a transverse section of the knife carrier showing one of the knivesand a part'oi.

the reel adjacent thereto, and V Figure 12 is a detail in perspective or split; of the feeding reel of the modified form of Ina- I the shown in Figures '6 to 11,

impregnated with 'or coated on one or bothsides,

- eferring to the drawings in detail, III is a base upon which is mounted a standard ll carrying one or more roi1s.i2 of pressure. sensitive or tape. This tape may be ofpa'per. cloth or foil.

be in the nature of ordinary adhesive plaster or rubberized friction tape, or it may be a strip of be placed in the machine side by side on the spin- I di l1 and used one at a time, or simultaneously.

The reel l5 comprises side plates 20 and 2|, the latter being preferably provided with a flange 22 to partly conceal the cutter actuating mechanism. These plates are mounted ona central axle 23 which may besupported in any suitable manner, as in a bearing 24 in the supporting bracket 25 mounted on the base Ill. The plates 20 and 2| are also connected by a plurality of cross rods constituting tape supporting members- 30. The end of the strip of tape is laid over these supporting members and when the reel is rotated through a part of a turn, the tape, through its adhesion to the supporting members, is drawn from the roll I2 and lies along andis supported by a succession of supporting members. It may .then be severed from the strip coming from the roll, and will remain supported upon the supporting members until removed by the operator.

In the form of invention shown, the cross members 30 are in the form of rods and have smooth rounded tape engaging surfaces. These cross members may be of metal or of any relatively hard and smooth surfaced material such as glass or synthetic plastic or other material to which the tape will adhere but from which it may be- The successive pairs of cross members are spaced about the circumference of the reel a suiiicient distance apart to allow the finger of the operator to be inserted beneath the severed strip of tape to permit it to be readily picked off the reel for application to the object upon which it is to be used. In the construction shown, the plate 20 is provided with a succession of curved notches 32 between successive pairs of cross members to permit the ready insertion of the finger under the tape.

Any suitable means for rotating the reel may be provided. For instance it may carry one or more. handles 34 (three being shown). It is simply rotated by pulling down on one of these handles and if three handles are provided it may be rotated in successive steps of approximately 120. of each pair are arranged quite close together, there is only a very short span of tape exposed between such cross members. Such short span of tape is thus firmly held and may very easily be cut by the insertion of a knife between the closel placed members. At the same time the end of the tape on each side of the cut will be supported by the cross member at that side of the cut so that the tape, after cutting, will be firmly held at each end upon the cross member of each pair at each side of one of the finger receiving notches. It is thus supported in definite Owing to the fact that the cross members use the same is of great value in an apparatus for successfully handling tape of the character under discussion; l

The tape, when supported upon the reel in the manner described, may be cut with a hand knife. It is preferred, however, to provide cutting means in the apparatus itself, such cutting means being of any suitable type. In the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5. a knife or cutter 50 is provided between each pair of supporting members. Each of the knives Bil is mounted on the arm 61 of a bell crank which is pivoted at 52 to a bracket 53 mounted on the plate 20 of the reel. The other arm 55 of the bell crank carries a cam follower 56 which is shown as a ball-shaped roller mounted on a pivot 51. The cam followers ride on the surface of a cam 60 which has a projecting portion 6|. As the cam followers successively pass this projection, the bell cranks are rotated so as to move the knives from the position shown at the bottom of Fig. 4 to the position shown at the top of said figure. This motion stresses the spring 82 which connects the bell crank with the fixed abutment 63. As soon as the cam follower passes of! of the cam Projection 6| the spring will cause the bell crank to move back to the position shown at the lower part of Fig. 4. The cutting is done as the upper knife is moved by the cam from the left to right. The knife then is moved back by the spring into its initial position where it is out of the path of the tape being wound upon the supporting bars. The tape ,is firmly mounted upon the supporting bars and stretched tightly between them before the, knife is caused to sever the tape.

It 'is to be observed that the knives or cutters move across the line of the tapes, cutting them cleanly from one edge to the other. The use of cutters in the form of thin, sharp blades attacking the edge of the firmly supported stretched tape and moving transversely across the same is found to be very effective, and such cutters do not become clogged by the tacky coating on the tape. The blades are preferably made removable from their holders so that they may be sharpened or replaced as soon as they tend to become dull.

When all of the knives are arranged to be successively operated by the cam, as shown in Fig. 3, the tape is severed at each pair of supporting members, so that a number of short pieces of tape will be supported on the reel at one time ready for removal. For instance, if the reel is moved through the tape coming from the supply roll, which may be assumed to be attached to the supporting members at the left beyond the projection on the cam and will be out between the bars of each of said pairs by the corresponding knife as the pairs pass such projection. The four severed pieces of tape at the right hand side of the reel in the region designated B, in Fig. 3 can then be readily lifted ofi and used. If two strips of tape are simultane- 5 ously applied. as illustrated, there will be eight short pieces of tape ready for removal. and this number may be increased bymerely increasing the width of the reel, and the number of strips of tape used. The end of the unsevered part of the tape remains attached at the left hand side of which are preferably of smooth metal; Bakelite or the reel, Fig. 3. The operator then moves the reel through another 120 which will cut and prepare for removal another group of pieces, of tape.

If it is desired to sever longer pieces of tape such as would be included between two or more successive pairs of supporting members. some of the knives may be thrown out of operation. For instance, if every other knife is rendered inoperative, strips will be severed of a length equal to twice the distance between two successive pairs of supporting members. Any knife may be readily thrown out of operation by use of its stop screw it, as shown in Fig. 5. The stop screw engages 9. lug 66 on the bell crank and when screwed in it forces the lug to the left, thereby moving the knife to the extreme right where it is out of the path of the tape. and where it will remain throughout the operation of the machine. It can be immediately restored to operation by screwingthe stop screw out of engaging position. a In Figures 6 to 12 a modified embodiment of the ting mechanism and in a number of details of construction. Referring to Figs. 6 to 12 in detail, the construction comprises a pair of side plates H and I II which may be provided with suitable feet 2 and which are held in rigid spaced apart relationship by a pair of front guide rods H3 and I I4 and by rear rods such as I16 and III. A cover H0 is preferably provided which may be pivoted on the pins I I and may be raised for the insertion of rolls of tape. The space between the side plates at-the back of the machine and below the cover may be closed by a rear wall section H9. The front of the machine is preferably open so as to provide access for removal of'the cut sections of strip or tape. Means are provided for supporting one or more rolls of tacky strip or tape I20 between the side plates. In the form of. invention illustrated the tape supporting means comprise a pair of cradle bars I22 carried attheir rear ends on the rod III and at their front ends on. the transverse rod I24, extending between the side plates.

The cradle bars are movable laterallyon these to which the tape strips I3I pass from the rolls I20. If desired a guide roller I32 may be joumaled betwen the side plates for guiding the tape strips from the rolls to the reel. The reel I30 comprises a central spool or core I35 rotatably mounted upon an axle I36 journaled in the side plates, the spool being provided with side flanges I31 and I38.

. Side flange I38 at-the right hand side of the spool (Fig. 9) is cut out at intervals as indicated at I39 to provide space for the introduction of the-fingers for a purpose to be described. Fitted in recess I40 in the side flanges are a plurality of transverse tape supporting member's I4 I. In the form of the invention shown. each of the tape supporting members comprises a pair of plates or bars I42 which are secured to and spaced apart by a spacer plate I43. The outer surfaces of the bars I42,

other relatively hard material, constitute tape en, easing surfaces I44 upon which the tape is wound and to which it is adapted to adhere by reason of its own tackiness. The tape will adhere with sunlcient firmness to these surfaces to enable the tape to be unwound by the rotation of the reel and the sections of tape when severed as hereinafter described will remainadhered to these surfaces, but can be readily detached by being grasped by the fingers of the operator and pulled free. The supporting members maybe secured in the recesses I40 in the spool flanges in any suitable manner, for

instance their left hand ends (Fig. 9) are formed with portions I41 projecting beyond the flange I31 which are engaged by a ring III held in place by screws I02. At theirrisht hand ends the supporting members have projecting ends III held in placeby-the arms I" of a spring plate III which may be mounted on the axle Ill in any suitable.

manner as by the forked piece Ill fitting in a groove in the axle; The endscf the spring arms I". are provided with slots I which receive the ends I" of the cross members. 'This method of attachment permits the supporting members to be removed or replaced as desired by springing out' the arms I" ,as shown in Fig. 12, and remcving the ring III. The ring Iii is provided with a flange I53 in which are slots "4 which register with the spaces between the plates I42 for a purpose to be described.

Means are preferably provided for rotating the reel. In the constructionshown such means com-. 1 prise a crank Ill fixed to the end of the axle I00 and carrying a handle Iii. Near the other end of the axle is fixed a disc I to which a pawl a the projecting ends I41 of the tape supporting members sovthat when the handle is pushed'or swung away from the front of the machine to- I wards the back, the reel will be rotated through a part of a revolution. When it is desired to advance the reel for'another part turn the handle is pulled forward-and-thepawl will snap by one or more of theiapdsupports, depending upon how far the handle-is moved and then upon swinging the'handle back an additional rotary movement will be imparted to the reel. The rotationof the reel acts to draw off a length of tape or strip from each tape roll and wind the same upon the tape supporting cross members. As his notdesired to wind the tape upon itself onthe reel, the reel-is never turned more than a part of a "revolution or-so far as to wind tape on a part of thereel until after the tape already thereon has been severed and removed, For pretr'i cally upon the stud I'H.' The active fac I12 ofthe dog may be knurledor otherwise suitably formed to engage a roughened surface on the ringIII.

To regulate the throw of the crank handle I60 to the-proper ,stopsiilan'd ISI may be providedwhich are mounted in the side plate I ll. I

, The-tape on the'reel may be severed in any suitable manner. In the construction shown aiknife carrier l'l'lin the 'forin oi'an are shaped member the knife carrier being siidable freely on these rods transversely 6n the-machine. Mounted in the channel'of the member Ili are one or more brackets I80 carrying knife blades III. The knife blades are preferably secured to the brackets in diagonal positions. as shown in Fig. 11, and they may be removably clamped in such position by means of clampplates I" and screws I84. The blades have their outer diagonal edges Ill sharpened so that when the knife carrier and knives are moved from left to right (Figs. 7 and 9) the knives will cut across the short lengths of tape which are firmly stretched between the adjacent plates I42. A smooth clean cut is thus assured. At the upper end of the member I16 a pilot plate I81 is preferably mounted. This pilot plate projects further to the right than the knives and prevents the knife carrier from being moved to the right except when the reel is turned into proper registry with the knives. When the reel is in such proper registry, one of the slots I54 in theiiange I53 is in line with the pilot plate so that the knife carrier may be moved to the right. If the reel is not in proper registry the pilot plate will strike a portion. of the flange I53 and not permit such movement. Thus the knives can only be moved when they are in proper registry with the slot I54 and will pass through the spaces between the plates I42. .The tape will therefore onl be cut at the proper points and there is not danger of moving the knives in such a way as'to dull them by contact with metal parts.

The stop piece I90 is so located that when the crank is pushed against it, the slots I54 in the flange I53 will register with the pilot plate and knives. 1

As in the form of the invention previously described, the sections of tape after severance remain with their ends adhered to the plates I42 so that they are firmly supported out of contact with each other or with any part of the machine except the tape supporting surfaces of the plates I42. Fouling of the machine is thus eifectually prevented. The strips are however readily accessible to the operator who inserts his finger under the strip, places his thumb upon the strip over his finger, and lifts the strip from the supporting members. As the strips are cut by the knives which are set a fixed distanceapart, the strips are of accurately measured and uniform length.

The length of strips severed will be determined by the distance apart of the knives, and by providing a number of knife brackets and a number of correspondingly placed notches in the core or spool of the reel it is possible to set, up the machine so as to deliver strips of different lengths. If knives are mounted on all of the knife carriers, and'tape supporting members are mounted in every notch in the reel, theshortest lengths within the capacity of the machine will be "delivered. Longer lengths may be delivered by removing alternate knives, or alternate knives and tape supporting members in instances where the reel is provided with a suflicient number of properly spaced tape supporting members t permit the tape to be supported upon the supporting members retained after alternate members have been removed.

While I have described, in detail certain preferred procedures to be followed in practicing my invention which I have found to be convenient and practicable, and while I have illustrated and described in detail certain forms of apparatus which I have found well adapted to carry out the required operation, I do not wish to be understood in the specification, as I realize that changes both in procedure and in the apparatus are pomible and I further intend each step or sequence of steps and each element or 'instrumentality appearing in any of the following claims to be understood to refer to all equivalent steps, sequences of steps, elements or instrumentalities for accomplishing substantially the same result in substan tially the same or equivalent manner.

I claim:

l. The method of serving sections from a roll of tacky material which consists in sticking the end of the tacky material to a support by means of the adhesive quality or the material itself, moving the support to draw the material from the roll, sticking an intermediate portion of the strip of material to a second support, and severing the material adjacent to said second support.

2. The method of serving sections from a roll of tacky material which consists in sticking the end of the tacky material to a support by means of the adhesive quality of the material itself, moving the support to draw the material from the roll, sticking an intermediate portion of said material to a pair of spaced supporting members, severin the material between said supporting members leaving the end of the severed strip attached to one of said spaced supporting members and leaving the end of the strip coming from the roll adhering to the second of said spaced supporting members, removing the severed strip from its support and then advancing the supporting member to which theend of the strip coming from the roll is adhered to draw a second length of material from said roll.

3. In a method of serving sections from a strip of tacky material, the steps which consist in sticking the portion of material to be served by means of the adhesive quality of the material itself totwo supports extending transversely of the strip and spaced apart longitudinally of the strip, severing the strip adjacent to one support while leaving the severed section suspended by the two supports and moving the supports to a position in which the material thereon may be grasped by the fingers of the operator and pulled oil of the supports.

4. In a method of serving sections from a strip of tacky material, the steps which consist in sticking the portion of material to be served by means of its inherent tacklness alone to two supports spaced apart longitudinally of the strip,

severing the strip adjacent to one support while leaving the severed section suspended by the two supports, and grasping the-severed section while so supported and removing it from the supports.

5. In a method of serving sections of a strip of tacky material, the step which consists in presenting a severed section of the stri stuck by means of its inherent tackiness to two supports spaced longitudinally of the strip, in position to be grasped between said supports by the fingers of the operator and thus removed from the supports in condition for application by the operator to the article to which it is to be applied.

6. The method of serving sections of tacky tape from a supply roll which includes the steps or adhering the tape by its tacky side to a transverse support, moving said support to draw tape from the roll, sticking an intermediate portion or said I.

tape to a pair of transverse supports mounted at a fixed distance from each other, and severing said tape between saidpair of supports.

7. The method of serving sections of tacky material from a roli which includes the steps of 1 sticking the end of said material by its tacky side sticking the end of the material toa support by its tack side, moving the support to draw the material from the roll, drawing the material. so moved under tension against a second support, without application of pressure on the reverse side of the material, to cause it to adhere to said second support and severing the material adjacent said second support.

9. An apparatus for serving sections of a strip of tacky material including a support for a roll of the material, a feeding and delivering element having a plurality of spaced supports for said strip movable in an orbital path, tape engaging surfaces on said spaced supports, said tape enaging surfaces having the property of adhering to the tacky surface of tacky tape but being incapable of adhering to the non-tacky surface of said tape, said tape being adapted to adhere by means of its tackiness alone to the said tape engaging surfaces, said element being movable in a direction to withdraw strip material from the roll, and cutting means for severing the strip while in motion movable in synchrony with the advance of the tape supports during the cutting operation.

10. An apparatus for serving strips of tacky tape from a supply roll including a support for feeding and measuring device mounted adjacent thereto provided with a plurality of spaced transverse members having elements capable of contacting the tacky side of said strip, and being free of any element contacting the non-tacky side of said strip, and strip severing means for, cutting the strip adjacent said spaced transverse members, while leaving the strip adhered to said members in position to be grasped by the fingers of the operator.

12. An apparatus for severing sections of a strip of tacky material, a support for a roll of the material, a feeding and delivering member-having at least two spaced supports for said strip, said supports having smooth tape-engaging sur faces capable, when the strip is contacted thereto under tension, of holding said strip by contact with the tacky side alone, said tape being free from pressing contact on the non-tacky side thereof, said member-being movable in a direction to withdraw the strip material from the roll, and present it in position to' be grasped, and a severing device for severing the strip adjacent 10 i to a strip support in rear of the front strip sup P rt.-

13. In apparatus for serving stripscf tacky tape from a supply roll, includin a supportfor the roll, a feeding and delivery element providing a tape, path, said tape path including on one side thereof spaced transverse members to which the tacky side of the tape adheres by its own tackiness, the other slde'of said tape path beingfree from pressure contact with said tape and a sevs ering device to sever said strips in said tape path.

14. In apparatus for serving sections of a strip of tacky material, a support for a roll of the material, a feeding and delivering member having at least two spaced supports for said strip, said supports having smooth tape engaging surfaces to which the strip is adapted to'adhere by its own tackiness, said member being movable in a direction to withdraw the strip material fromthe roll and present it in position to be grasped and a severing device for severing thestrip adjacent to a strip support in rear of the front strip support.

15. In apparatus for serving sections of a strip of tacky material, a supporting for a roll of the material, a movable supporting and feeding member for said strip to which the end of the strip is adapted to adhere by its own tackiness, said movable supporting member being movable in a direction to'draw the strip from the roll, a second strip support in rear of said first supporting member to which an intermediate portion of the strip is adapted to adhere by its own tackiness and cooperating with said first supporting member to support the section of strip to be served in position to be grasped by the operator, and a severing device for severing the strip adjacent to said second strip support,

16. In apparatus for serving out sections of a strip of tacky material, a feeding and delivering member having at least two spaced supports to which the material is adapted to adhere by its own tackiness, said member being movable in a direction to advance the strip of material and present the end portion of the strip in position to be grasped, and a cutter for cutting the strip comprising a thin sharp blade mounted for movement transversely of the strip from edge to edge thereof adjacent to a strip support in rear of the front strip support.

17. In an apparatus for serving strips of tacky material, means for holding a supply of the material, a rotatable element mounted adjacent thereto provided with a plurality of spaced transverse members having strip engaging surfaces to which the strip is adaptedfto adhere by its own adhesiveness, and strip severing means for cutting the strip adjacent to said spaced transverse members, while leaving the strip adhered to said members at each side of the line of severance.

18. In apparatus for delivering sections of tacky strip material, a, rotatable feeding, measuring and holding element having pairs of transverse members spaced aboutthe periphery thereof, said members having surfaces to which the tacky strip is adapted to adhere, and a cutter 11 20. In a machine for serving tacky strips a rotatable feeding and holding element comprising side members and spaced transverse strip supporting members carried by said side members, at I least one of said side members being open to permit the insertion of the operator's finger under the stripadhering to said strip. supporting members.

21. In apparatus for delivering sections of tacky strip material, a rotatable feeding, measuring and holding element having pairs of transverse members spaced about the periphery thereof, said members having surfaces to which the tacky strip is adapted to adhere, a plurality of cutters mounted on said element, one cutter being mounted adjacent to each pair of supporting members and movable between said members to sever the strip supported on said members, and cutter operating mechanism for operating said cutters in, sequence as the element is rotated.

22. In apparatus for delivering sections of tacky strip material, a feeding, measuring and holding element having pairs of transverse mem-' bers spaced about the periphery thereof, said members having surfaces to which the tacky strip is adapted to adhere, a plurality of knives, and

. bell cranks and movable between the members of each pair of transverse supporting members, and a stationary cam having a projection thereon, said bell cranks having cam followers movable in engagement with the surface of said cam.

27. In an apparatus for delivering sections of tacky strip material, a rotatable feeding, measuring and holding element having pairs of transverse members spaced about the periphery thereof. said members having surfaces to which the tacky strip is adapted to adhere, knife carriers mounted on said element and knives carried by said knife carriers movable transversely across the path of the strip between the supporting members of said pairs of transverse supporting memtacky strip material, a rotatable feeding, measmovable carrying means for said knives actuatable to move a knife between a pair ofsupporting members to sever the strip supported on said members without detachment of the strip from either member of said pair.

23. In apparatus for delivering sections of tacky strip material, a rotatable feeding and measuring member having pairs of spaced strip supports carried thereby and spaced at intervals circumferentially about its axis, said strip supports having surfaces to which the tacky strip is adapted to adhere, and a plurality of movable knife carriers mounted on said rotatable'memher, one of said knife carriers being mounted adjacent to each pair of strip supporting members and knives mounted on said knife carriers and movable between said strip supports to sever a strip supported on said supports.

24. In apparatus for delivering sections of tacky strip material, a feeding, measuring and holding elementhaving pairs of transverse members spaced about the periphery thereof, said members having surfaces to which the tacky strip is adapted to adhere, a plurality of knives mounted on said element, one knife being mounted adjacent to each pair of supporting members and movable between said members to sever the tape supported on said members, means for operating said knives in sequence as the element is rotated,

and means for rendering any particular knife or knives inoperative.

25. In an apparatus for delivering sections of tacky strip material, a rotatable feeding, measuring and holding element having pairs of transverse members spaced about the periphery thereof, said members having surfaces to which the tacky strip is adapted to adhere, bell cranks mounted on said element, knives carried by said bell cranks and movable between the members of each pair of transverse supporting members, and a cam for actuating said bell cranks when the element is rotated.

26. In an apparatus for delivering sections of tacky strip material, a rotatable feeding, measuring and holding element having pairs of transverse members spaced about the periphery thereof, said members having surfaces to which the tacky strip is adapted to adhere, bell cranks mounted on said element, knives carried by S d uring and holding element having transverse strip supporting members spaced about the circumference -thereof, said members having surfaces to which the tacky strip is adapted to adhere, a cutter carrier mounted exteriorly of the element for movement parallel to the axis of the element and a cutter carried by said cutter carrier adapted to sever the strip adjacent to a transverse tape supporting member when the cutter carrier is moved.

29. In apparatus for delivering sections of tacky strip material, a feeding, measuring and holding element having removable transverse members spaced about the periphery thereof, said members having surfaces to which the tacky strip is adapted to adhere, a cutter carrier movable parallel to the axis of the element and a plurality of cutters removably mounted on said cutter carrier.

30. In an apparatus for delivering sections of tacky strip material, a support, a feeding, measuring and holding element rotatably mounted on said support, said element including pairs of transverse members spaced about the circumference thereof, said members having surfaces to which the tacky strip is adapted to adhere, a

cutter carrier mounted on said support and movable thereon parallel to the axis of the element and a cutter carried by said cutter carrier and movable between the adjacent members ofa pair of said transverse members to sever the strip supported on said members.

31. In an apparatus for delivering sections of tacky strip material, a support, a feeding, measuring and holding element rotatably mounted on said support, said element including pairs of transverse members spaced about the circumference thereof, said members having surfaces to which the tacky strip is adapted to adhere, a cutter carrier mounted on said support and movable thereon parallel to the axis of the element, and a plurality of cutters carried by said cutter carrier and spaced to correspond with the spacing of said pairs of transverse members on the element and adapted to be moved between the members of a plurality of said pairs of transverse members when the cutter carrier is move parallel to the axis of the element.

32. In an apparatus for delivering sections of tacky strip material, a support, a feeding, measuring and holding element rotatably mounted on said support, said element including pairs of transverse members spaced about the circum adapted to be moved between the said cutter carrier comprising a member'extendbig part way around the periphery of the ele- -rying member except when the cutters are in registry with the spaces between the membersof pairs of said transverse members.

33. In apparatus for delivering sections fix-- strip material, a support, a feeding,; measuring and holding element rotatably mounted on said support. saidr'elemenv'comprisingagcore and a plurality of pairs of transverse members spaced about the circumference of and mounted on said. core, said members having surfacesto which the tacky tape is adapted to adhere, a ring mounted on said core and overlying portions of the ends' of said transverse members. said ring having slots therein registering with the spaces between the members of each pair of transverse members,

a cutter carrier mounted on the support and movable parallel to the axis of the element, and cutters carried by said cutter carrier and movable through said slotsin said ring. and betweenthe o transverse members of respective pairs of said transverse members, so as to sever the strip carried by said transverse members.

34. In apparatus for delivering sections-of tacky strip material, 'a feeding, measuring andholding -as element having pairs of transversestrip supporting members spaced about the periphery thereof, a cutter adapted to pass between said members, and pawl and ratchet mechanism for intermittently rotating said element to bring said pairs 4 of strip supporting members successively into alignment with said cutter.

35. In an apparatus for delivering sections of tacky strip material, a support, a feedin measuring and holdingelement rotatably mounted on 51 said support, said element including pairs of transverse members spaced about the circumference thereof, said members having surfaces to which the. tacky strip is adapted to adhere, a cut- 'ter carrier mounted on said support and movable thereon parallel to the axis of the" element, a plurality of cutters-carried bysaidcutter carrier and spaced to correspond with the spacing of said pairs of transverse-members on the-eiement and "members-of 55 a plurality of said pairs of"transverse: members when the cutter carrier is moved parallel to the axis of the element, an operating handle, a pawl and ratchet connection between said operating handle and said element, and stops arranged to so stop the movement of the element in a position in which spaces between pairs of transverse members on the element register withthe cutters.

36. In a machine for dispensing lengths of pressure sensitive adhesive tape, in combination, a feed device for withdrawing the tape from a source of supply, said device including a plurality of spaced surfaces of suflicient area to provide effective adhesion for a length of tape means, for supporting said adhesion surfaces for movement in an orbital path, and means formeveringethe' leading end of the tape in rear of a surface to which the leading end is adhered, whereby the severed length will be retained by adhesion to such surface for delivery to the operator.

' 37. An apparatus for serving sections of a strip of tacky material including a support for a roll of the materiaha feeding and delivering element having at least two spaced supports for said strip, tape engaging surfaces on said spaced supports. said tape engaging surfaces having the property of adhering to the tacky surface of tacky tape but being incapable of adhering to the non-tacky surface of said tape, said tape being adapted to adhere by means of its tackiness alone to the said tape engaging surfaces, said element being movable in a direction to withdraw strip material from'the roll, and a severing device for severing the strip adjacent one of said supports.

38. In apparatus for serving sections of a strip of taclw material, a support for a roll of the material, a feeding and delivering element having at least two supports for said strip spaced from one another in the direction of travel of the strip and adapted to contact the tacky surface of said strip, said supports having tape engaging surfaces to which the strip is adapted to adhere by its own tackiness. said surfaces being of suiflcient contact area to retain a severed section of tape by adhesion to assure the controlled delivery of such severed sectionto a desired serving position, but of such limited area that such section can be readily detached, said element being movable in a direction to withdraw the strip material from the roll and present it in position for removal, and a severing device for severing the strip at a point further from the leading end of the tape than a strip support to which it is adhered whereby the severed section will be supported by adherence to at least one-strip support.

39. In an adhesive tape dispensing device, a

rotary tape dispensing wheel mounted for peripheral engagement with the adhesive side of a continuous length of tape extending from a supply thereof, whereby a portion of the tape is fed from the supply and applied to said wheel upon rotation of said wheel, said wheel having a plurality of angularly spaced peripheral spaces for permitting the insertion of the operators finger underneath a fed portion of the tape to permit removal of the tape from the wheel, means for severing the fed portion of the tape from said continuous length thereof, and indexing means for rotating the wheel to feed said tape step by step, and constructed and arranged to present said finger spaces successively in position for the insertion of the operators finger.

40. In an adhesive tape dispensing device, a

' severing the tape at a point opposite an opening between said spaced supporting surfaces, and indexing means for rotating said wheel constructed and arranged to present one of said openings opposite said knife after each indexing operation.

41. In an adhesive tape dispensing device, a rotary tape dispensing wheel mounted for peripheral engagement with the adhesive side of a continuous length of adhesive tape extending from a supply thereof, whereby a portion of said .tape is fed from said supply and applied to said :wheel upon rotation of said wheel, said wheel having a plurality of angularly spaced peripheral notches, a tape severing knife disposed adjacent tape simultaneously, and means for severing a 42. In an apparatus for dispensing tacky tape, I

means for holding a supply of the tape, a rotatable reel for withdrawing tape from the-supply and supporting said tape pending removal therefrom, said reel including tape engaging supports spaced cincumferentially of .the reel from each other at their outer extremities a distance necessary to permit the insertion of the fingers of the operator between each pair of supports and extending transversely across the path of the tape, and a cutter adjacent to the periphery of the reel for cutting the tape so as to sever the same into lengths corresponding to the spacing of said supports.

43. In a machine for dispensing lengths of pressure sensitive adhesive tape from a roll of such tape in which each layer adheres to the underlying layer. so that substantial force is required to" peel the tape from the roll, in combination, uneans for supporting a roll of such tape, a feed device for drawing the tape from the roll, said device including a series of spaced surfaces of suflicient area to provide effective adhesion for a a I length of tape, means for supporting said surfaces for movement in an orbital path so relatedto the tape roll supporting means as to cause the said surfaces to contact the tape one after another, and a plurality of the surfaces to adhere to the length of tape at the leading end thereof, while leaving an unsevered portion of the .tape adhered to a sufllcient number of surfaces to assure effective feeding engagement of the tape with said device.

44. A machine as set forth in claim 43, in which the severing means is mounted for advancement in the direction of tape feeding during .the severing operation and includes mechanism for actuating the severing means to sever the tape while the severing means are advancing synchronously with the tape.

45. A machine as set forth in claim 43 in which the severing means comprises a cutteriand a carrier therefor mounted for advancement in the direction of tape feed during the severing operation and a fixedcam for actuating the cutter carrier to cause the cutter to sever the tape while the cutter and cutter carrier are advancing synchronously with the tape.

' THEODORE H. KRUEGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 30 2,178,722 De Maltia Nov. 7, 1939 2,210,003 Randolph Aug. 6, 1940 2,233,361 Anderson Feb. 25, 1941 2,241,658 Engberg May 13,: 1941 

